K-State names locker room after Jordy Nelson and his wife, who donated to stadium project

The renovations at Bill Snyder Family Stadium got a financial boost from a former player.

Green Bay Packers star wide receiver Jordy Nelson is making a financial contribution to the university where he played football from 2003-07. K-State athletic director John Currie announced Thursday in a news release that Nelson’s gift will used for “Phase III-B of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium Master Plan, the northeast corner of the Vanier Family Football Complex.”

“Kansas State University and K-State Football have meant so much to our family and continue to be a big part of our lives,” Nelson and his wife, Emily, said in a news release. “The Manhattan and Riley County communities are home for us, and giving back to the program and university that have afforded us the opportunities that we now have was very important to us, so that student-athletes, fans and the entire K-State Family can continue to have the success they deserve.”

Nelson grew up in Riley, Kan.

Kansas State’s locker room at the Vanier Family Football Complex will be named the Nelson Family Locker Room in recognition of the couple’s contribution, Currie said in the release.

“We appreciate Jordy and Emily’s loyalty and generosity to K-State Athletics and our goal of providing a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience,” Currie said. “Jordy and Emily are model K-Staters and for them to graciously give to enhance the experience of Wildcat student-athletes and fans is a true testament to their passion and love for K-State.”

Although the size of the gift from Nelson and his wife was not disclosed, the Kansas State athletic department had received more than $8 million toward the $15 million it says is needed for the project.

The second round of renovations to Kansas State’s stadium resulted in a new football complex that is a 132,000-square-foot building named after longtime K-State benefactor Jack Vanier and his family. Additional improvements included a larger video board and better sight lines for fans in the north end zone as well as a new welcome to campus from Kimball Avenue.

In this round of improvements, K-State is trying to raise $15 million to install enhancements such as a second video board, a concourse and a permanent locker room for visiting teams.

“We are all so very proud of Jordy and Emily and greatly appreciate their involvement in the new Vanier Family Football Complex,” said K-State football coach Bill Snyder said in a release. “Jordy has never strayed from his value system and thus remains the same caring, committed, loyal, passionate Kansas State person who believes in his program and is giving back. They are a wonderful family.”